Teddy Atlas: Mayweather has the edge over Pacquiao
February 21, 2015Early Fight Results From Ontario, California
February 21, 2015
Andrey Fedosov and Donovan Dennis scored big knockouts to move onto the semifinals, while Lenroy Thomas and Razvan Cojanu claimed victory in less impressive fashion, both winning in controversial tiebreakers.
Steve Vukosa and Donovan Dennis headlined this quarterfinal card in an entertaining southpaw skirmish. Vukosa (10-1, 4 KO) looked to play spoiler early, downplaying the offense of Dennis and having a fairly successful second round. A devastating left hand in the third changed everything. Dennis (11-1, 9 KO) couldn’t finish off the wobbly Vukosa immediately, but he showed great poise and applied a controlled beating which finally forced Vukosa to retire with ten seconds to go in round four.
Donovan Dennis defeats Steve Vukosa by TKO, Round 4.
Andrey Fedosov staked his claim as the favorite to win the tournament, dropping Nat Heaven twice in the first round for a quick stoppage win. Fedosov (26-3, 21 KO), whose most notable pro bout was an LRTD to Bryant Jennings in 2013, showed himself to be a class above the night’s earlier competitors, displaying smooth movement and ring generalship. Heaven (9-2, 7 KO) made a good account of himself, especially in the heart he showed after the first knockdown, but Fedosov was just too good, and a final right hand (or wrist) to the temple ended Heaven’s night for good.
Andrey Fedosov defeats Nat Heaven by TKO, Round 1.
Razvan Cojanu may have come into his bout with Tex Trismegistus a hot prospect, but he lost a lot of shine over the course of seven rounds despite getting the win. Cojanu (13-1, 7 KO) established himself as something of a dirty fighter early on in the bout, landing a cornucopia (cornu-CUPia?) of low blows and shots to the back of his opponent’s head. Trismegistus (10-1, 4 KO) made a strong account of himself for being a part-time boxer with no amateur experience, but ultimately the judges saw it Cojanu’s way, after a drawbreaker round that, just as in the first fight of the night, I did not think should have happened.
Razvan Cojanu defeats Tex Trismegistus (68-67 x 2 68-65)
Bad Left Hook had it 57-55 for Trismegisus before the drawbreaker, and scored the drawbreaker round 10-9 for Cojanu.
The night did not start off with promise. Veteran pro and former Olympian Jason Estrada turned in an uninspired performance that nonetheless should’ve gotten him the win over awkward southpaw Lenroy Thomas. Estrada (20-6, 5 KO) had success with his right hand early, and continued to land the harder cleaner shots throughout the fight. Nonetheless, the judges (and Teddy Atlas) saw something in the performance of Thomas (20-3, 9 KO), and the bout went to a seventh, drawbreaker round which Thomas, the far better conditioned fighter, easily won.
Lenroy Thomas defeats Jason Estrada by Unanimous Decision (68-67 x 3)
Bad Left Hook had it 59-55 for Estrada before the drawbreaker, and scored the drawbreaker round 10-9 for Thomas.
With these wins, the semifinal bracket is set. Donovan Dennis will fight Razvan Cojanu, while Andrey Fedosov will be pitted against Lenroy Thomas. The semifinal bouts are scheduled to take place April 10th.
